CHAPTER 3 Getting Started
Syntax
man [options] command_name
Common Options
-k keyword list command synopsis line for all keyword matches
-M path path to man pages
-a show all matching man pages (SVR4)
Examples
You can use man to provide a one line synopsis of any commands that contain the keyword that you want to search on with the "-k" option, e.g. to search on the keyword password, type:
% man -k password
passwd (5) - password file
passwd (1) - change password information
% man passwd
PASSWD(1) USER COMMANDS PASSWD(1)
NAME
passwd - change password information
SYNOPSIS
passwd [ -e login_shell ] [ username ]
DESCRIPTION
passwd changes (or sets) a user's password.
passwd prompts twice for the new password, without displaying
it. This is to allow for the possibility of typing mistakes.
Only the user and the super-user can change the user's password.
OPTIONS
-e Change the user's login shell.
Here we've paraphrased and truncated the output for space and copyright concerns.